Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that after weeks of budget negotiations, he helped pass a state budget that invests in Central New York’s economic development and infrastructure improvements and modernizes the state’s voting system.

“I’m committed to keeping Central New York’s momentum going,” said Stirpe. “That means investing in our local economy, fixing our roads and making sure our voices are heard. This was a tough budget because of fiscal challenges, but I made sure our interests didn’t fall to the wayside”

The 2019-20 state budget makes major investments to key programs and projects that promote economic growth in Central New York. The budget includes $1 million for the Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems, a program helmed by Syracuse University that is committed to creating jobs through research and innovation in environmental and energy technologies.[1]

The budget also includes $100,000 for CenterState CEO, which has been key in fostering economic development in the region. The funding will help bolster efforts to strengthen local businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. . As a member of the Assembly Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee, as well as a former business owner, Stirpe recognizes the importance of programs that support local small businesses and foster innovation and growth.

Further, the state budget provides nearly $440 million for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) to maintain and update roads in upstate New York. From getting to and from work to connecting businesses and customers, our daily lives and economy depends on safe roadways, Stirpe noted.

In addition to investing in economic development programs, the budget also includes measures to help New Yorkers exercise their right to vote. It increases the amount of time offered to an employee to vote without loss of pay from two to three hours and enacts an electronic voter registration system. The budget also includes $14.7 million in capital funding for counties to purchase e-poll books and on-demand ballot printers to support the implementation of early voting during a nine-day period before an election. The budget will also prohibit Political Action Committees (PACs), labor unions and independent expenditure committees from offering loans to political candidates.